BIOGRAPHY

Mikel Donahue, b. 1956, Tulsa, OK (United States)

A multiple award winning member of the Cowboy Artists of America, artist Mikel Donahue is best known for his impeccable depictions of cowboy life. His drawings and paintings portray ranchers and their livestock during the day-to-day ritual of sun-up to sun-down work on the ranch. What may seem as mundane chores are captured and translated through his artistic style into moments of meaning and reflection.

Donahue, who was born and raised in Tulsa, was taught about life on the ranch by his paternal grandfather who raised cattle in north central Oklahoma. It was Donahue's maternal grandfather who exposed him to western art at an early age with memorable trips to Tulsa's Gilcrease Museum and what was then the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Fascinated both by life on the ranch and the iconic art by the likes of Charlie Russell and Frederic Remington, as an adult, Donahue has become a perfect amalgam of his influences with a life breeding racing quarter horses with his wife Christie on their place outside Broken Arrow and an award-winning career in the arts.

In May of 2017, Mikel was inducted in as a member of the Will Rogers High School Hall of Fame,

an honor that includes musicians, Leon Russell, David Gates, designers Paul Davis, Joe Johnston, among other national and world renowned notables. Mikel is a graduate of the University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK and a 32 year veteran and multiple award winning designer of the advertising/graphic design business.

Selected Exhibitions

• Cowboy Artists ofAmerica Annual Exhibition & Sale, Ft.Worth, TX

• Cowboy Artists of America Annual Miniature Exhibition& Sale, Museum of the West, Scottsdale, AZ • Briscoe Western Art Museum, Night ofArtists, San Antonio, TX

• Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Quest for the West Art Show, Indianapolis, IN • National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Prix De West Invitational, Oklahoma City, OK

• National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Small Works-Great Wonders Exhibition & Sale, Oklahoma City, OK • Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Buffalo Bill Art Show, Cody, WY

• Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK

• C.M. Russell Museum. Great Falls. MT

• Phippen Museum, Miniature Masterpiece Show, Prescott, AZ

• The Society of Animal Artists Annual Exhibition & Sale

• Oklahoma Capitol Building, Governor's Gallery - One Man Exhibition, Oklahoma City, OK

Cowboy Artists of America exhibition & sale 2024: Gold Medal - R Watson Boots True West Award - Knot Tying 10. The inaugural R. Watson Boots True West Award, highlighting authenticity in Western life representation, was awarded for Knot Tying 101 and judged by working cowboy Joe Leathers from the 6666 Ranch.

 Silver Medal in Mixed Media - Arizona Cowboy

The Silver medal was awarded in mixed media for Arizona Cowboy. Featuring Thomas Rodgers, 4th generation Babbitt Ranch cowboy.

Awards

• Cowboy Artists of America 2023: Gold Medal - Mixed Media, Silver Medal - Mixed Media

• Cowboy Artists o f America 2022: Ray Swanson Memorial Award, Gold Medal - Mixed Media, Silver Medal - Water Solubles

• Cowboy Artists of America 2021: Ane Marion Best ofShow, GoldMedal - Water Solubles, Gold Medal- MixedMedia • Cowboy Artists o fAmerica 2019: Gold Medal - Drawing, Gold Medal - Mixed Media, Silver Medal - Water Solubles

• Cowboy Artists of America 2018: Silver Medal- Other Media

• Cowboy Artists of America 2017: Silver Medal- Water Solubles

• Inducted as a Member of the Will Rogers High School Hall ofFame - 2017 • Academy ofWestern Artists: Will Rogers Award - Artist ofthe Year - 2011

• Buffalo Bill Historical Center 2010:Premier Platinum Award and William E. Weiss PurchaseAward • Buffalo Bill Historical Center2009: Artists' Choice Award